Ogbeche Threatens Legal Action Over Alleged Link Between Cross River Governor and NUJ FCT Election Crisis

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) dissolved its executive council (exco) on Saturday, October 19, during a contentious congress held at the NUJ secretariat in Abuja. The exco, led by Patrick Osadebamwe, including its chairman, was impeached by union members who accused the leadership of attempting to manipulate the upcoming council election scheduled for December 4.

Tensions escalated when the exco was alleged to have tried imposing a credentials committee, which would oversee the election. The committee members were reportedly loyal to the exco, raising suspicions among members about the fairness of the process. The committee nominees included Emeka Nze of Blueprint, Francisca Udoh from ITV, and Godfrey Okon from Abuja Inquirer.

A chaotic scene unfolded during the congress as members rejected the proposed committee, accusing the leadership of deceit. Chanting "We no go gree" and "You can’t dictate to us," union members clashed with the exco, almost resorting to physical confrontation. Armed police were briefly called but left upon realizing it was a union dispute.

In response to the unrest, members gathered signatures, with over two-thirds supporting the impeachment of the exco. They urged chapel chairmen to temporarily manage the FCT council’s affairs and called on the NUJ national leadership to approve the decision and appoint a caretaker committee.

Ogbeche Reacts, Denies Governor's Involvement

Emmanuel Ogbeche, the former NUJ FCT council chairman and current spokesperson for Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, expressed disbelief over claims linking the governor to the NUJ FCT election crisis. Speaking with The ICIR, Ogbeche dismissed the allegations as unfounded, questioning why a governor would interfere in a local NUJ election.

Ogbeche, who served as the FCT council chairman for five years before becoming Governor Otu’s spokesperson in June 2023, denied any involvement in the election or the credentials committee controversy. He vowed to take legal action against media outlets that reported on the alleged involvement without seeking his response.

"There is NUJ in Cross River State. He has not interfered in the NUJ in Cross River. Why should he interfere in FCT? He is just one out of 36 governors," Ogbeche said, stressing that his principal had no stake in the FCT election.

He revealed that his lawyers were preparing legal notices for media organizations, demanding proof of the alleged link between Governor Otu and the NUJ election. Ogbeche emphasized that any suggestion of interference would have serious consequences, adding that the NUJ’s internal crises were not limited to the FCT but extended to the national level as well.

Reflecting on his time as chairman, Ogbeche defended his record, stating that there were no crises under his leadership. He expressed disappointment that internal mechanisms within the union's constitution were not utilized to resolve the issues, warning that the integrity of Nigeria’s premier journalism union was at stake in the current situation.